Astana last team to start in Team Time Trial

Astana will be the last team out of the starter's blocks this afternoon in Montpellier, following its rivals Columbia-HTC and Team Saxo Bank. The fourth stage team time trial will open at 14:30 CET with Caisse d'Epargne the first squad to roll down the start ramp.

The teams will start in inverse order of the team rankings. Astana currently leads by 1:46 minutes over Columbia, with Saxo Bank another seven seconds behind the American team.

The teams start at seven-minute intervals, and are expected to cover the 39 km course in about 43 minutes. There are three intermediate time checks, at 10km, 19.5km, and 30.5 km.

The teams' final time will be measured when the fifth rider crosses the finish line. All riders within the group will be awarded the same time. However, any riders who arrive after their group (more than a bike length) will be given their actual time.

The cut-off time is the winning team's time plus 25 percent.

Start order for the team time trial: (CET)

14:30 - Caisse d'Epargne
14:37 - Team Katusha
14:44 - Rabobank
14:51 - Lampre-NGC
14:58 - BBOX Bouygues Telecom
15:05 - AG2R La Mondiale
15:12 - Skil-Shimano
15:19 - Française des Jeux
15:26 - Agritubel
15:33 - Silence-Lotto
15:40 - Quick Step
15:47 - Cervélo TestTeam
15:54 - Team Milram
16:01 - Liquigas
16:08 - Euskaltel-Euskadi
16:15 - Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
16:22 - Garmin-Slipstream
16:29 - Team Saxo Bank
16:36 - Columbia-HTC
16:43 -  Astana